Plastic bobbin



Dec. 27, 1966 c. w. DOLEN ETAL 3,294,341

PLASTIC BOBBIN Original Filed Jan. 24, 1964 CECIL W. DOLEN HARVEY E. SULLIVAN JR.

BY QMM ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofilice 3,2hi-fidl Patented Dec. 27, 1966 3,294,341 PLASTEC EOBEIN (lecil W. Doien and Harvey E. Sullivan, Jr., Kingsport,

Tenth, assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Continuation of application Ser. No. 33%,919, Earn. 24, 1964. This application Mar. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 543,442

12 Claims. (Cl. 242-125) This application is a continuation of our copending application, Serial No. 339,919, filed January 24, 1964.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus useful in textile processing. More particularly, it relates to a plastic bobbin adapted for anchoring yarn strands thereto.

Processing of textile yarns requires almost countless tie-ups in the course of each day. Because of the nature of bobbin surfaces, yarns do not cling well to them. In the past it has been necessary to wrap each strand of yarn once of twice around the bobbin barrel to insure positive action and to prevent slippage of the strand as the bobbin starts to rotate. Bobbins tied up by wrapping the strands around the bobbin barrel have a loose end which frequently presents a problem when the yarn strand is Withdrawn from the bobbin.

Various attempts have been made to solve this problem but to date without the desired success. For example, various types of slots have been devised, especially for use on bobbins or spools which are in motion. Such slots have had only a limited acceptance by the yarn industry for anchoring yarn strands to stationary spools. Thus, a small slot going around the circumferential central portion of the bobbin is of limited use due to being not readily adaptable to a large range of yarn sizes. Also, release of the yarn strand upon removal of the spool from the spindle is oftentimes rather difiicult when such a slot is used.

Apparatus employing a single slot in the rim of the spindle extending only to the core or body of the spool or bobbin has also been used for anchoring yarn strands to bobbins in motion. Such an arrangement, however, requires raising of the bobbin to trap the yarn strand and has been found to sometimes cause a soiled slick-surfaced pigtail left at the base of the bobbin.

Other slot arrangements include slots in the larger circumferential base portion or rim running parallel to the core, a V-shaped flange notch at the inner side of 21 peripheral recess used in conjunction with circumferentially offset diametrically opposite notches in the outer side of such recess, a narrow slot opening extending from the periphery of spool barrel to periphery of its head, and a single notch in one portion of the bobbin core approximately halfway between the flanged ends and more or less in the shape of a slash caused by a single whittling by a knife.

These various notch configurations and locations, although in general highly satisfactory for their individual purposes, have failed to solve the problem of how to anchor a yarn strand to a stationary bobbin so that the strand will not slip when the bobbin rotates and yet when bobbin is removed from adaptor, the yarn strand is freed in such a manner that it may be completely withdrawn. After extended investigation, we have found a slotted plastic bobbin which will solve this problem and also prevent interference of a loose end of yarn strand with withdrawal of yarn from bobbin.

One object of this invention is to provide a simple means and method of fastening the yarn strand to the empty textile bobbin. Another object of this invention is to provide positive means of trapping a yarn strand and preventing it from slipping as a bobbin is rotated. Still another object is to eliminate the loose end of a yarn strand where the tie-up is made. A further object is to provide means for freeing a yarn strand so that it can be easily and completely withdrawn from bobbin. Further objects will appear hereinafter.

In its broader aspects our invention involves apparatus adapted for tieing up a bobbin by threading a taut yarn strand in a slot in said bobbin, the strand being trapped between the inside surface of the bobbin barrel and an adaptor spring. A second slot located on the opposite side of the bobbin barrel may be used according to our invention to provide easy access to an anchoring slot regardless of the position of the bobbin when the tieing takes place. After the yarn strand has been trapped between the inside wall of the bobbin barrel and adaptor spring, the loose end is broken at the outer edge of the slot. According to this arrangement as long as the bobbin remains undisturbed in position in the adaptor the yarn strand is trapped. However, when the bobbin is removed from the adaptor the end of the strand is free.

Plastics which we have found useful in making the slotted bobbin of our invention include acetal, styrene ABS, polystyrene, nylon and polypropylene.

A further understanding of our invention will be had from an examination of the drawing which forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a view of an entire bobbin having slots in each side of the bobbin barrel.

FIG. 2 is a view partly in longitudinal cross-section and partly in perspective, which shows a portion of the bobbin barrel with slots rotated FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the bobbin showing slotted portions of the bobbin in place on a spring-type plastic spindle adaptor.

Referring to the drawing, plastic textile bobbin 10 comprises bobbin barrel 12 in which slots 14 and 16 are cut in the bobbin barrel at an angle which ranges from about 15 to 22. The width of slots 14 and 16 may be from inch to inch and dependent upon the range of yarn counts or denier of the yarn strand to be Wound. Bobbin 10 is placed on spindle adapator 18 and is held in contact therewith by adaptor spring 20. Four adaptor springs 2i) may be conveniently used on spindle adaptor 18 of FIG. 3.

Tieing up the bobbin is accomplished by threading a taut yarn strand in slot 14 or 16 with sufiicient force to trap the strand between the inside of the bobbin barrel I2 and the adaptor spring 20, at point 22. In tieing up the yarn strand a single slot is used. Second slot 16 is located on the opposite side of the bobbin barrel 12 to insure having a slot in position when the yarn strand is tied up. After the yarn strand has been trapped between the inside wall of bobbin barrel 12 and adaptor spring 29 at 22, the loose end is broken at the outer edge of the slot 14 or 16.

As long as bobbin 10 is not disturbed the yarn strand is trapped at 22, but when bobbin 1G is removed from adaptor 18, the end of the trapped strand is freed.

Although this invention is related directly to the tieing up of yarn strands to bobbins on an idle textile machine, it is equally applicable to any operation where the individual bobbin drive spindle may be stopped and the feed of the yarn strand may be controlled.

For a further understanding of our invention the following example is presented as illustrative thereof.

A taut yarn strand of continuous filament cellulose acetate yarn was tied to a bobbin such as that depicted in FIG. 3 by threading in the slot with sufficient force to trap the strand between the inside surface of the bobbin barrel and the adaptor spring. The loose end was then broken at the outer edge of the slot and winding was begun. The bobbin was wound until yarn reached almost to the periphery of the smallest flange. The bobbin was then removed from the adaptor, whereupon the end of the trapped strand was freed.

From the preceding description and example it should be apparent that we have rovided a slotted plastic bobbin to which a yarn strand may be easily anchored without a slippage of yarn when the bobbin rotates and one which permits easy freeing of the yarn strand upon removal of bobbin from adaptor. By use of slots according to our invention, the yarn strand may be trapped between the inside wall of the bobbin barrel and the spring of the bobbin adaptor. Tieing up of yarn strands onto empty bobbins is facilitated. Slippage of the yarn strand when the bobbin rotates is minimized. Furthermore, when the full bobbin is removed from the bobbin adaptor, the yarn strand is freed so that it may withdraw completely. Also, the loose end of yarn strand is in a slot and thus prevented from interfering with the withdrawal of yarn from the bobbin.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be eflfected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrical bobbin barrel flanged at both ends thereof, the flange at one end being slightly smaller than that at the opposite end, a protruding core portion at the end having the smaller flange, said protruding core portion being terminated by a flange of approximately the same diameter as said barrel, two slots approximately 180 apart in the bobbin barrel extending inwardly toward the axis of said barrel and toward the end of said barrel having the larger flange at an angle of from about to 22 from the axis of said barrel, said slots being of a substantially uniform width of between about and inch, said flanged bobbin barrel being held in contact with a spindle adaptor by a plurality of adaptor springs located around the circumference of said bobbin barrel, said springs being adapted to hold a yarn strand firmly in position during winding of yarn around said bobbin barrel and readily free same therefrom upon removal of said bobbin barrel from said adaptor, said slot and adaptor springs being positioned such that the end of the slot toward the axis of said bobbin barrel is less than halfway from the end of the bobbin having the smaller flange to the end of the bobbin having the larger flange, and said apparatus excluding said adaptor springs being made entirely of plastic.

2. A plastic bobbin comprising a cylindrical-shaped barrel flanged at both ends, the smaller flanged end containing a protruding cylindrical core of somewhat smaller diameter than that of said barrel, said core being flanged at the end thereof,- and two slots in said barrel approximately 180 apart, said slots extending at an angle of about 68 to 75 from the horizontal toward the axis of said barrel, the width of said slots being from ,4 to of an inch.

3. The plastic bobbin according to claim 2 wherein the bobbin is placed on a spindle adaptor and held in contact with said spindle adaptor by a plurality of adaptor springs, said springs being adapted to trap in place a yarn strand threaded in one of said adaptor slots.

4. The method of tieing up a bobbin which comprises threading a taut yarn strand in a slot in a bobbin barrel directed toward the axis of said barrel at an angle of from 15 to 22 with suflicient force to trap said strand between the inside surface of the bobbin barrel and a spring on a spindle adaptor, breaking the loose end of said yarn strand at the outer edge of said slot, winding said strand of yarn around said bobbin barrel until the yarn load reaches the flange capacity, and releasing the end of the trapped strand.

5. In combination: wall means forming abobbin barrel having a hollow interior and at least one strand-receiving slot extending through said twall means into said hollow interior; a spindle adaptor mounting said bobbin barrel; means for exerting a holding force mounted on said adaptor and extending into said hollow interior; said slot being located to cooperate with said force exerting means so that a strand inserted into said slot is held by said holding force.

'6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said strand- -receiving slot is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of said barrel.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said stranreceiving slot has a shape generally defined by the intersection of two spaced planes with said barrel with the median plane of said slot being disposed at an acute angle with, and, when projected, extending through the axis of said barrel, the line defined by the intersection of said median plane with said barrel having a major axis which, when projected, intersects the axis of said barrel, said major axis lying in a common plane with said barrel axis, and said common plane being substantially perpendicular to said median plane.

8. In a bobbin for winding a strand, said bobbin having lwall means forming a barrel having a hollow interior, and means for preventing the strand from slipping during the initial stages in the winding of the strand on said bobbin, the improvement wherein said slip preventing means comprises at least one strand-receiving slot, said slot extending through said wall means into said hollow interior, and said slot being inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of said barrel.

9. The invention of claim 8, wherein said slot has a shape generally defined by the intersection of two spaced planes with said barrel with the median plane of said slot being disposed at an acute angle with and, when prO- jected, extending through the axis of said barrel, the line defined by the intersection of said median plane with said barrel having a major axis which, when projected, intersects the axis of said barrel, said major axis lying in acornmon plane with said barrel axis, and said common plane being substantially perpendicular to said median plane.

10. The invention of claim 9, wherein there are two strand-receiving slots spaced oppositely on said barrel; said acute angle is from about 15 to 22 degrees; and said spaced planes are about to of an inch apart.

11. The method of filling a bobbin which comprises the steps of: threading a strand into a slot in a hollow bobbin barrel; releasably holding a portion of said strand inside of the bobbin barrel; breaking the loose end of said strand at the outer edge of said slot; winding said strand around the bobbin barrel; and releasing the end of the held strand.

12. The method of tieing up a hollow bobbin which comprises the steps of threading a strand into a slot in a hollow bobbin barrel, and exerting a force from the inside of said hollow bobbin barrel against a portion of said strand to hold said portion inside of the bobbin barrel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,753,124 7/1956 Guterman 242--l25.1

FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

LEONARD D. CHRISTIAN, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL BOBBIN BARREL FLANGED AT BOTH ENDS THEREOF, THE FLANGE AT ONE END BEING SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THAT AT THE OPPOSITE END, A PROTRUDING CORE PORTION AT THE END HAVING THE SMALLER FLANGE, SAID PROTRUDING CORE PORTION BEING TERMINATED BY A FLANGE OF APPROXIMATELY THE SAME DIAMETER AS SAID BARREL, TWO SLOTS APPROXIMATELY 180* APART IN THE BOBBIN BARREL EXTENDING INWARDLY TOWARD THE AXIS OF SAID BARREL AND TOWARD THE END OF SAID BARREL HAVING THE LARGER FLANGE AT AN ANGLE OF FROM ABOUT 15 TO 22* FROM THE AXIS OF SAID BARREL, SAID SLOTS BEING OF A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM WIDTH OF BETWEEN ABOUT 1/64 AND 1/16 INCH, SAID FLANGED BOBBIN BARREL BEING HELD IN CONTACT WITH A SPINDLE ADAPTOR BY A PLURALITY OF ADAPTOR SPRINGS LOCATED AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID BOBBIN BARREL, SAID SPRINGS BEING ADAPTED TO HOLD A YARN STRAND FIRMLY IN POSITION DURING WINDING OF YARN AROUND SAID BOBBIN BARREL AND READILY FREE SAME THEREFROM UPON REMOVAL OF SAID BOBBIN BARREL FROM SAID 